​​February 20th would have been my dad’s 114th birthday. Here is the email I sent to my family.
Dear Family,
        Today would have been Papa’s 114 birthday.
       If he were here today he would be so proud of everyone one us., which reminds me of a musing of his: I wish George Washington could return and I could show him around. What would he think?
     Hmm, what would I show Papa if he could be with me now? First, I would show him our family and Jim’s and my home. Then we would walk up the street to my church. Oh, I’m sure we’d visit Florence. We’d remember being there with Grammy and Alice in 1956; we’d walk around the city and visit my favorite museums, churches and restaurants.
     What is new in the world that Papa would be interested in and intrigued to explore? Certainly the technology world, and particularly the graphic arts.
     What would disappoint him? Most certainly our president’s public name calling. As you all know, Papa loved to discuss ideas, and he was comfortable voicing his opinions and listened to those of others. But he always did so showing kindness and respect, and was willing to admit that he had changed his mind. He was a model of civility and he expected his four children (and grandchildren) to be kind and polite, and to make us ever mindful of the needs of others.
     Grammy was the same way. I remember once, and only once, calling her a ‘dumb bunny.’ I can still picture her lifting her finger, looking me in the eye, and saying, “Don’t you ever talk to me again that way.” I never did.
     We are now living all over the country. I admit that I am sad that we don’t get together as we used to. I miss those of you that I hardly ever see. But, there is the technology world. I’d love to hear what you would show Papa, and the ‘words of wisdom’ that Grammy told you. I trust that the rest of you would love to hear, too.

​    First of all, a update on the various components of my silent, solitude and simple life on this snowy Monday morning.
• Family is doing great: healthy, proactive, positive. I’m very grateful for this.
• Church is doing great. It is one of the most welcoming places I know.
• Friends. Some doing great, but not all. Regardless, they are trying to stay proactive, positive, and faithful as they deal with health and family issues.
 
     Secondly, a few headlines from my world of silence, solitude, and simplicity.
• I’m trying not to get drawn into everyday politics but I must admit it is a challenge not to turn on the T.V. and tune into what I call, ‘My Sources.’
• I give myself an A in reading. This year I’ve read 12 books; only 68 to go to meet my 2019 Goodreads Challenge of 80 books.
• The front room is clear of stuff we don’t want. If we ever decide to move, what’s left can be boxed up in a couple of hours.
• My upcoming trip in April to Italy with my daughter and granddaughter is competing for center stage with all the other good things in my life.
• Every morning I start my day naming five things for which I am grateful. The usual list, which I learned from my mom, holds steady: family, friends, health, life and faith. But there are always others. 

​It is silent this morning as the ice on my driveway melts from last night’s snow and rain. All I can hear, as I sit in the sunroom (no sun), is the rhythmic tick of four clocks that my husband is trying to get in sync. Tinkering with old clocks has been a hobby of his for many years. It is a meditative hobby, taking patience, and encouraging an atmosphere of active silence, solitude, and simplicity. 

    ​It feels like I haven’t posted about silence, solitude, and simplicity lately. Well, at least not in that simple way with a comment such as, “I’m (just) sitting in the silence, solitude, and simplicity today.” Somehow the word ‘just’ is essential in conveying my feeling because it gets rid of the need to explain or quality my mood.
     Perhaps right now I should follow my own advice and stop writing. Before I do, however, I want to share something about the accompanying photo of my couch, knitting, book, and pillows from Florence,. Arranging those items brought me an added wave of contentment, and so I encourage you to do the same. Gather a few of your favorite things on your comfy resting spot, and see how you are led to relax into silence, solitude, and simplicity; live into it, if even for five minutes. 

   ​I posted the following on ‘A Solitary Traveler,’ but I want to say a little more about the silence and solitude I experienced. Being the only person among the second floor icons was awesome. If I had come with a friend, that wouldn’t have happened; silence and solitude would have been compromised.
    I understand that not everyone desires to travel alone the way I do, but if you long for silence, solitude, and simplicity, I suggest that you spend a morning by yourself at a museum. You may not have the floor to yourself, but you can wander about silently in your own little world.   
 
     Today I took a solitary trip to the Museum of Russian Icons, in Clinton, eighteen miles and thirty-five minutes from my house. I had planned to take pictures, but upon arriving I discovered I had left my phone at home.  What good news that turned out to be; no distractions. I was free to look. And since I was alone, it was just me and the icons.
     More good news: I had the entire second floor of the museum to myself for the entire visit. 

​Right across the street at the library I’ve discovered a new source of ready-to-read reading selections: the books on the Librarians’ Choice shelf. Librarians and readers have a built in basis for friendship, and what do readers do? They share book suggestions. The shelf is another way of doing this.  

​    Cold here: 12 degrees at mid-day. Our driveway is icy, although it was plowed. I’m enjoying my second snow day, recalling such respites when I was a teacher. Admittedly these current ones are more satisfying because I don’t need to make them up during the last, hot days in June. And, I was paid for them—no furlough.
    In retirement I fill these snow days like any other day when I stay home in the winter. I read, cook, write, work on a jigsaw puzzle, and sit in the silence, solitude and simplicity. I stay in the house; taking is walk is not safe option.
     Lately solitude has been taking center stage for me, pushing silence and simplicity to the role supporting cast. I prefer to do things alone—travel, go to museums, shop, eat, do a puzzle, walk. Perhaps I prefer solitude because I have family and friends as a balance. When I’m not alone, I visit people, which I certainly can’t do in solitude. Hmm, just thinking—the yin and yang of life. 

     ​Would you believe this? I was selected as one of two the blog stars for December 2018 by Lonely Planet for my 12/28 post “More Signs of a Solitary Traveler," posted in A Solitary Traveler on this blog.“ (LP Pathfinders: what did you write this month [December]’ in our Travel Bloggers and Pathfinders forum.”)
 
“Hey guys,
Thanks to everyone who submitted their wonderful travel tales from December 2018! A big congratulations to the following blog-stars who made it into this month's new-look round up:
@BobbbiFisher 
@ChrisGaillard
You can check out the round-up in full, including why these blogs were selected, here: https://www.lonelyplanet.com/blog/2019/01/17/pathfinders-best-blogs-instagram-shots-and-videos-from-december-2018
Well done everyone! Keep up the wonderful travel writing and we look forward to reading more of your posts next month.
Happy travels!
Jack

The Journey

One day you finally knew
what you had to do, and began,
though the voices around you
kept shouting
their bad advice--
though the whole house
began to tremble
and you felt the old tug
at your ankles.
“Mend my life!”
each voice cried.
But you didn’t stop.
You knew what you had to do,
though the wind pried
with its stiff fingers
at the very foundations--
though their melancholy
was terrible.
It was already late
enough, and a wild night,
and the road full of fallen
branches and stones.
But little by little,
as you left their voices behind,
the stars began to burn
through the sheets of clouds,
and there was a new voice,
which you slowly
recognized as your own
that kept you company
as you strode deeper and deeper
into the world,
determined to do
the only thing you could do--
determined to save
the only life you could save.


    Mary Oliver

I’ve activated my ‘It’s time to go: letting go of stuff” blog. http://lettingofstuff.blogspot.com/ I started it in 2012 with the intention to get rid of something every day for a year. Well that didn’t happen: I’m just up to day 222/365. Hopefully my new intention isn’t just one of those New Year’s resolutions that fades away.
Last year we decided we’d move out of this old house, so we did a lot in preparation for that—painting rooms and getting rid of stuff. But we changed our minds.
Now we figure we will stay here as long as we are able to go up and down the stairs. Believe me, there is NO way to create a bedroom or a shower on the first floor. Maybe we’ll stay here forever, but in the mean time I’m purging—giving away or boxing stuff we don’t need or use. If nothing else, this resonates with my longing for simplicity.